New Delhi, Dec 12: The high-voltage campaign for the second phase of Gujarat Assembly elections 2017, which is viewed as a prestige battle for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a litmus test for newly-elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi concluded on Tuesday. A total of 93 seats will go to poll in the second and final phase, scheduled for December 14. A total of 851 candidates are in the fray for the second phase, where 2.22 crore people are eligible to vote.
During the campaign, PM Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah trained guns on the Congress on issues like Ram Temple, alleged Pakistani interference in the Gujarat polls and Aiyar’s remarks. On the other hand, Congress president Rahul Gandhi persistently attacked PM and the BJP for ‘not talking about the future of Gujarat’ and skipping key issues being faced by the people of the state.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi took to Twitter and urged people ‘to vote for the BJP in record numbers’. “I urge my sisters and brothers of Gujarat to vote in record numbers on the 14th. I call upon the people of Gujarat to not only give the BJP an overwhelming majority but also ensure that BJP wins in every polling booth across the state,” Modi tweeted. (Full Coverage of Gujarat Assembly Elections 2017)
Making an emotional appeal, the Prime Minister said that the people of Gujarat will ‘give a fitting reply to the negativity and lies of the Opposition’. “The lies that our worthy opponents have spread, about Gujarat, Gujarat’s growth and about me personally is something I had never imagined. It is natural for every Gujarati to feel hurt. People of Gujarat will give a fitting reply to the negativity and lies of the Opposition.”
Modi also asserted that the victory of BJP is a guarantee for a bright future. In a series of tweets, PM stated that he is ‘devoting his life to the betterment of the people of Gujarat and India’. “I am devoting my life for the betterment of crores of people of Gujarat and India. Have been fortunate to always get your blessings. I am sure you will continue to bless us in these elections too by voting for BJP,” PM said on Twitter.
“With the Government of India and Government of Gujarat working together, the strength rises manifold. This 1+ 1 is not 2 but 11 and together we will take Gujarat to new heights. During my travels across Gujarat, the level of affection I have received from the people is unparalleled in my 40 years of public life. This affection gives me strength and motivates me to devote all my time for India’s development,” Modi posted, as the campaigning for the Gujarat Assembly elections concluded.
Prime Minister Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi aggressively led their parties which often turned personal. While PM addressed more than 20 rallies for Bharatiya Janata Party, Rahul spent many days to dethrone the BJP government in the state. The last Congress government in Gujarat was led by Chhabildas Mehta from February 17, 1994 to March 13, 1995.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission earlier in the day ordered repolling in six booths, where first phase polling was held on December 9. The repolls will be held along with the second phase elections. Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat B.B. Swain said that the poll panel has cancelled the results stored in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in six booths in four constituencies of the first phase of elections.
Speaking to IANS, Swain said,”The reasons for cancelling these booth results is that the Presiding Officers (PO) had forgotten to wipe and delete the existing mock poll drill in their EVMs. We have initiated necessary actions against these lax officials.”
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